Amalgamation of two Wokingham schools set to get green light
Proposals to bring two schools in Wokingham together will be finalised this month (November 29) if Wokingham Borough Council’s decision-making executive agree proposals to amalgamate Whitelocke Infant and Nursery and Palmer Junior schools.
Consultation was carried out over the summer on the amalgamation proposals and in September the executive agreed to publish statutory proposals in October. A further six-week statutory consultation period followed allowing parents and local Wokingham people to comment further. The proposal and consultation were made jointly with the Oxford Diocese.
An all-through primary school would have a significant number of benefits for pupils, parents and staff. Developing a curriculum across the age range of three to 11 will help pupils to make a smooth transition from key stage 1 (infant) to key stage 2 (junior). It would also be easier for the school to develop a more coherent curriculum in a single school and, by using consistent forms of assessment, to better identify pupils’ needs and measure their progress.
Further opportunities for Wokingham staff would be created for career and professional development, leading to improved recruitment and retention of staff as well as the opportunity to develop their professional experience and share their expertise across the full primary age range.
There would be common policies on issues throughout the school and parents would only have to communicate with one school rather than two. Another benefit is that parents would no longer have to apply through the admissions process in order for their children to transfer from the infant to the junior school.
There would also be significant benefits for Wokingham children with special educational needs whose future support could be planned more easily. Both schools have units for pupils with physical difficulties and it is proposed that this provision would continue in the new school.
Wendy Woodcock, corporate head of Wokingham children’s services, said: “In making their decision, the executive will have to consider relevant statutory guidance and consider any views raised during the six-week consultation period. The amalgamation of the two schools will bring significant benefits and should secure high standards of achievements for the pupils. I hope the executive will support these proposals which would see pupils, teachers and support staff benefiting from their new school in September 2008.”
Leslie Stephen, director of education at the Oxford Diocese, said: "If it goes ahead, this project will offer an innovative way of two schools coming together to form a single school, which we believe is a good move for the children of both schools.”
Tina Norman, executive headteacher of both the infant and junior school, said: “It has been a real privilege working as executive headteacher of both schools during the period of collaboration. The schools have been well supported by the parents and the collaboration has given us the opportunity to bring the staff and children together on many occasions. The amalgamation will build on this process and enable the governing bodies to strengthen their relationships with All Saints Church and the local community. We continue to be inclusive schools, meeting the needs and education of all the children that come through our doors. The new school has a bright future.”
Consultation was carried out over the summer on the amalgamation proposals and in September the executive agreed to publish statutory proposals in October. A further six-week statutory consultation period followed allowing parents and local Wokingham people to comment further. The proposal and consultation were made jointly with the Oxford Diocese.
An all-through primary school would have a significant number of benefits for pupils, parents and staff. Developing a curriculum across the age range of three to 11 will help pupils to make a smooth transition from key stage 1 (infant) to key stage 2 (junior). It would also be easier for the school to develop a more coherent curriculum in a single school and, by using consistent forms of assessment, to better identify pupils’ needs and measure their progress.
Further opportunities for Wokingham staff would be created for career and professional development, leading to improved recruitment and retention of staff as well as the opportunity to develop their professional experience and share their expertise across the full primary age range.
There would be common policies on issues throughout the school and parents would only have to communicate with one school rather than two. Another benefit is that parents would no longer have to apply through the admissions process in order for their children to transfer from the infant to the junior school.
There would also be significant benefits for Wokingham children with special educational needs whose future support could be planned more easily. Both schools have units for pupils with physical difficulties and it is proposed that this provision would continue in the new school.
Wendy Woodcock, corporate head of Wokingham children’s services, said: “In making their decision, the executive will have to consider relevant statutory guidance and consider any views raised during the six-week consultation period. The amalgamation of the two schools will bring significant benefits and should secure high standards of achievements for the pupils. I hope the executive will support these proposals which would see pupils, teachers and support staff benefiting from their new school in September 2008.”
Leslie Stephen, director of education at the Oxford Diocese, said: "If it goes ahead, this project will offer an innovative way of two schools coming together to form a single school, which we believe is a good move for the children of both schools.”
Tina Norman, executive headteacher of both the infant and junior school, said: “It has been a real privilege working as executive headteacher of both schools during the period of collaboration. The schools have been well supported by the parents and the collaboration has given us the opportunity to bring the staff and children together on many occasions. The amalgamation will build on this process and enable the governing bodies to strengthen their relationships with All Saints Church and the local community. We continue to be inclusive schools, meeting the needs and education of all the children that come through our doors. The new school has a bright future.”
Wokingham Borough Council
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